Monmouth Defeats Canisus 44-40

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Sophomore Justin Robinson (Lake Katrine, N.Y./Kingston) connected on both ends of a one-and-one with 3.2 seconds left to seal a 44-40 victory for Monmouth over visiting Canisius in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action on Sunday afternoon.

Justin Robinson takes a shot against Canisus (Monmouth Athletics)

Monmouth, which held the Golden Griffins to a season-low 40 points, improves to 13-12 overall and 9-5 in the MAAC.

Robinson, who added four assists and four rebounds, notched nine points, matching Brice Kofane’s (Yaounde, Cameroon/Miller School/Providence) nine-point, six-rebound effort for the Hawks. Monmouth, which hit just 31.8% (14-44) from the field, went 15-of-21 from the free throw line, including 7-of-10 in the second half.

Behind a 9-0 run, which included five points from Chris Brady (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields), the Hawks built an eight-point lead, 42-34, with 3:06 remaining, before consecutive three-pointers from Jermaine Crumpton and Kassius Robertson pulled the Griffs within 42-40 with 50.1 left.

Following a Monmouth miss, Canisius was called for offensive basket interference on the game-tying hoop with four seconds showing, and Robinson connected on the decisive foul shots with 3.2 on the clock.

Justin Robinson (Monmouth Athletics)

“Give Canisius a lot of credit,” stated head coach King Rice, who’s Hawks swept the season series with the Griffs. “Both games this year went down to the wire. A couple of plays and we get to be the victorious team today. I am very proud of my kids for their defensive effort, the way they guarded the ball and their energy on the defensive end. I am very happy that we were able to get this win and keep growing on both ends of the floor.”

An 8-1 Canisius run pushed the Griffs in front 13-7 with 9:17 remaining in the half, before an 8-0 streak by the Hawks, capped by Max DiLeo’s (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) three-pointer from the corner, pushed Monmouth ahead 15-13 at 2:24. After Jamal Reynolds’ lay-up tied the score at 15-15, but a Robinson free throw and Kofane’s three-point play gave Monmouth a 19-15 advantage with 20.9 seconds left. The Hawks, who held Canisius to a season-low tying 16 points at the half, held a 19-16 edge at the break.

Austin Tilghman (Wilmington, Del./Archbishop Carroll) added seven points for Monmouth, while DiLeo notched five points, four rebounds and three assists, and Zac Tillman (Yeadon, Pa./Shipley School) tallied five points and six boards.

Monmouth, which surrendered a season-low 40 points to the Griffs, have now held five opponents to 50 points or fewer on the season, and 10 opponents in the 50’s or fewer.

Monmouth returns to action on Saturday, February 14 when the Hawks travel to the Times Union Center, the site of the 2015 MAAC Basketball Championships, to face Siena at 7:00 p.m.